room,speakerboehnersoundeda bit optimistic. >> i've outlined a framework for how both parties can work together to avert the fiscal cliff, without raising tax rates. >> a few have looked closely at what the president have had to say, looked closely at what i have to say. there are no barriers here to sitting down and beginning to work through this process. >> the president says that he is open to any ideas, good ideas, from republicans, to get revenue. he said that he will not slam the door in their faces, but still taking that tough stand, that he will not extend those bush-era tax cuts for wealthy americans. we also saw the president take a strong stand, as you pointed out, in defending his ambassador, ambassador susan rice. the president realizing that she's been coming under attack from republicans, in particular, senator john mccain, who's been going after her, because of the narrative that she told shortly after those benghazi attacks. senator mccain saying that he just wants to get all the facts, suggesting that the white house has not been transparent. the president says a

president obama and the four top congressional leadersjohnboehner, nancypelosi, harry reid, mitch mcconnell all will begin talks at the white house. cnn's jill dougherty is following those developments for us this morning. she's in our washington, d.c. bureau. good morning, jill. >> hello, soledad. well, this is it. both sides are going to be there. they're looking at the tone. they're looking at the president, what kind of tone will he set? you have to say that they're coming in both sides with their essential positions intact. all, both sides are saying that there is some room for a compromise. so, the essential thing is how do you compromise? if you look at the positions, let's say, of the republicans, and it's most strongly, as i say, relayed by senator mitch mcconnell, he does not, and they do not, want any tax increases. so let's listen to him first. >> and let's be clear, an opening bid of $1.6 trillion of new taxes just isn't serious. it's more than simpson-bowles or any other bipartisan commission has called for. it's been unanimously rejected in the house and senate, it's t

speakerboehnersaidand said, look, let's work on closing these loopholes and deductions. that is common ground. there's no reason why -- >> that would raise taxes on people. this is where you get this fight in the republican party. because if your taxes go up but your tax rate doesn't go up, is that a sell republicans can live with? >> it depends how it's mixed up. we don't want to raise the tax rate. if you're closing loopholes and broadening the base, lowering the rate, then i think we could get there. >> you signed groemp norquist's pledge i'm going to assume because pretty much every congressman did. >> yes. >> would you be fine doing a compromise where you would go against your signature on that pledge. if you felt there was a compromise on the table -- >> i do not -- i do not -- >> to the pledge -- dramatic, wasn't it? >> it was dramatic. >> but i need these notes so i'm going to put them back like that. >> i do not intend to do that. i want to fight for the principles i believe in. i, too, was elected, and i think that's part of the give and take. >> grover norquist was not elect

leadership position in the house republican leadership withjohnboehner, ericcanter and kevin mccarthy ahead of her. that's big news for house republicans. also big news on the democratic side of the house today after much, much speculation, nancy pelosi announced she'll stay on for another two years as a top democrat in the house. but that wasn't the only message she was sending today. despite losing the gavel to republicans in 2010 and failing to win it back last week, nancy pelosi says she's staying. >> i have made a decision to submit my name to my colleagues to once again serve as the house democratic leader. >> reporter: flanked by dozens of her democratic female colleagues, pelosi clearly relished the chance to draw a stark contrast with house republicans. >> i'm so proud to stand here with you, my sisters. this is girls morning out. we must have the further empo r empowerment of women. this statement of the strength of women in the congress of the united states. >> reporter: the next congress will have a record 78 women serving in the house. 58 of them democrats, only 20

boehnersaidi don't want to put anybody in a box, they don't want to have some framework out there the markets are going to get all concerned about. but inside wall street, different analysts and investment houses are saying they're not certain that a deal is -- the kind of deal that wall street wants is going to actually get done. so that's still something to really be concerned about. a lot of comparisons going on in the debt ceiling debate of 2011 that started all this. that was a very hard time for investors. and for the public. now something that's a little more fun, faster and cooler, motor trend car of the year, this was a really cool tesla model "s" all-electric plug-in luxury car. the first time an electric car has been elected. eleven finalists. and this was a pretty solid field. the ford fusion, porsche 911. the hyundai azera and the editor at motor trend said at its core the tesla model "s" is simply a damned good car you happen to blug in to refuel. seats seven. in part because it doesn't have a big, bulky combustion engine. average 74.5 miles per gallon equivale